BNP Paribas opens a new electronic banking unit in Jebel Ali Free Zone

This first Electronic Banking branch within BNP Paribas G.C.C. network, is an integral part of the Bank's Dubai Operations.

This initiative is aimed at reaching out closer to its clients located in the Jebel Ali area to serve them better through a service point at their doorstep. The Unit Office is equipped with an automated teller machine (ATM) and computer kiosks for the customers that would permit on-line account consultations and pre-defined transactions.

The customer service advisors posted at the Jebel Ali Unit Office would facilitate the normal day to day requirement of the customers by receiving cheques/drafts for clearing/collection, letters of Credit/Guarantee applications, export documents, remittance requests and cheque book requisitions etc for submission to Bank's Dubai branch. BNP Paribas has also made arrangements for delivery of documents, cheque books, banking forms, statements etc... to the clients based in Jebel Ali.

The new unit would also enable BNP Paribas to offer its products and services to the customers located in Jebel Ali Free Zone area.

BNP Paribas has strong growth ambitions in the region and this initiative will not only add value to client servicing but would also serve the bank well in realising its desired business goals of increasing market share in its core business lines.

Mr. Jean-Christophe Durand, the Regional Director for the G.C.C. Countries underlined that BNP PARIBAS has a strong presence in the GCC both geographically and businesswise through all its three core businesses. BNP PARIBAS was the first international bank to open full fledged branches in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in 2005. At the same time, several teams active in the region were relocated from Europe to the GCC regional hub and the new regional global debt platform in Bahrain is the first of its kind in the group. BNP PARIBAS is continuing its expansion and investment in this priority region and has ambitious plans to be one of the leading international financial institutions in the GCC.

Mr. Michael Pereira, Country Head - United Arab Emirates stated that the BNP Paribas has developed strongly in the UAE in terms of its corporate and investment banking, trade finance and private banking businesses. It is also planning to set up Priority Banking to cater to the needs of affluent investors. The launch of the Jebel Ali Unit would allow the bank to supplement these steps for growth. He added that the BNP Paribas has active plans to open shortly a second unit office in Dubai close to Sharjah Industrial area along with one more unit office in Musaffa in Abu Dhabi.